Greig Leach

The finale of stage 8 was an uphill sprint to the line. On paper it was a sprinter's stage, one that was tailor made for the guy who didn't start today, Mads Pedersen. As they got to the final meters of the stage it looked like Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) was in perfect shape as his leadout man was still setting the pace. He did have the Maillot Vert of Biniam Girmay (Intermache-Wanty), the best sprinter is this Tour, on his wheel. It was Pascal Ackerman (Israel-Premier Tech) who had the cat bird seat, the wheel of Girmay. Would Cofidis get a stage win for the second year in a row, or would someone further back get the jump on everyone in this painting?